James Guenther tells of his early memories running wild on the old Elks picnic ground along the Rogue River and that's how he came to know Charley Givan.
It was Charley's grandfather Lindsey Givan who re-settled the land in about 1879 during the period of western migration. Lindsey's son, George Anderson Givan sold about 12 acres along the Rogue River to the Medford Elks Lodge #1168 in 1911, and by 1912, the Mail Tribune noted that the Elks planned more than $5000 of improvements to include a dancing pavilion camping cottages, a pool, water system and electric lights, most of which never came about.
Jim Guenther's father was caretaker of the Elks picnic grounds, and while his father worked, Jim would fish and talk with Charley. Jim recalls that the Medford Elks had stag nights out at the picnic grounds and one time Jim and a buddy floated in and got a real eyeful. The next day the boys found a case of booze and hid it in the river, but a storm came up and washed the booze away never to be found again. The Elks picnic ground passed into private hands in 2009.
George Anderson Givan deeded the ranch to his three sons, Charley, Thomas and Dewey in 1954. George died on April 19, 1957, survived by his wife Catharine and later sons Thomas and Dewey passed as well leaving Charley to work the ranch. Charley died on May 15, 1986 at the age of 95 and his sister Ruth died on December 30, 1990, age 93.
Kay Atwood documented the Givan Ranch in the early 1970s and her work, including photographs, oral histories, maps and surveys are in the University Archives and Special Collections at Southern Oregon University.
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